Best snorkeling spots in Sharm el-Sheikh: which reef and beach to choose?

Swimming past the El Fanar pier toward the yacht area near Farsha, the water gets noticeably colder and it's crowded. An unhurried swim there takes about 10-15 minutes. Depth in this area can reach around 20 meters, and the best fish sightings ('trophies') tend to be found at depth.

Water level and reef swimming access vary strongly by month: summer water levels are lower than in winter (December can see record-high levels). In April, it was possible to swim over the reef comfortably at both low and high tide. By June, however, swimming over the reef was barely possible even at high tide — could only just reach the spot with the 'little clownfish' and not go further.

Maya Bay is preferable to Naama Bay: it has more depth and fewer people. Naama Bay is usually overcrowded, making it hard to swim properly — comfortable only early morning, around 7–8am.

Compared to 2008, the reef has noticeably declined: back then the swimming zone ran along the entire beach and two pontoons operated, now only one remains. Swimming along the Dreams hotel beach used to be unrestricted, but now lifeguards whistle to stop it (enforced boundaries).

Mornings often start with a yellow flag, turning red later as waves pick up — best to swim and view the reef around 9am. Due to low tides, shore entry is often impossible except near the "jazz" pier area. Sea water is warmer than the hotel pools in the morning.

At the 'wild reef' area, experienced swimmers cover 1.5–2 km in 1.5–2 hours at a leisurely pace (tested by a family with a 13-year-old). The 'columns' spot is also worth seeing. If you're not confident swimming even 100m, avoid the remote sections.

A current flows from the main pier out to open sea, which is why swimming between certain beaches is prohibited. It's not constant — during an 11-day December stay it was strong only a couple of days. With fins, you can swim against the current to reach the Rotana and Albatros hotel areas.

Dana hotel in September has warm water and a clean, clear open sea entry with sandy bottom about a minute's walk away. Neighboring Desert Rose is noticeably worse. Convenient for adults, trickier with kids.

The Rixos Seagull pier is long and fully exposed to the sun, which can be uncomfortable in summer heat — worth factoring in when choosing a hotel.

Seagull Beach (Rixos) reef in June is excellent: colorful, full of fish including Napoleon wrasse. The pier has a kids' pool, non-alcoholic bar, showers, changing rooms and lockers. Towels provided. A short buggy ride to the reef. Downside: the reef is mostly in shade before noon due to wave direction, so colors are less vivid.

In February–March red flags are common and swimming is often impossible. In June the sea is calm — daily swims of several hours are realistic. Seagull reef is open and accessible in summer.

El Fanar beach suits long reef swims — an hour each way along the reef, with roughly 200–300 metres between the ropes. Best option in Sharm for those who want extended snorkeling distances.